Electromagnetic Fields 2015 Update

5. Conclusions on mobile phones and radio frequency fields

Few studies have looked at effects on children

Extensive research has been conducted in recent years on how
RF fields, including those generated by mobile phones, might
affect health.
Carcinogenicity and a
variety of possible effects have been studied, both inside the
laboratory and among human populations.

Conclusions of the Opinion are based on thorough examination
of all pertinent and very numerous
epidemiological and
experimental studies from three independent lines of evidence
(studies on humans, animals, and
cell cultures).

Overall, the epidemiological
studies on mobile phone RF EMF exposure do not show
an increased risk of brain
tumours. Furthermore, they
do not indicate an increased risk for other
cancers of the head and
neck region.

A considerable number of well-performed in vivo studies using a wide variety of animal models have been
mostly negative in outcome.

A large number of in vitro studies pertaining to
genotoxic as well as
non-genotoxic end-points have been published since the last
Opinion was adopted. In most of the studies, no effects of
exposure at non-thermal levels were reported.

The theory that RF exposure may affect brain activity, as
supported by evidence from previous EEG studies conducted during
sleep and wakeful periods, was also supported by some recent
studies although the small
physiological changes
remains unclear and mechanistic explanation is still lacking.
Overall, there is a lack of evidence that RF EMF affects
cognitive functions
in humans.

Symptoms that are attributed by some people to RF EMF exposure
can sometimes be strong enough to cause serious impairments to a
person’s quality of life. However, research conducted since the
previous SCENIHR Opinion adds weight to the conclusion that RF
EMF exposure is not causally linked to these symptoms.

Relevant studies show no adverse effects on reproduction and
development from RF fields at non-thermal exposure levels.